For most people college is a time for creating genuine, long-lasting
friendships, but what about the friends who existed before college? …
She sat at her computer carefully
reviewing, for what she hoped was the last time, the assignment on which
she had been working all weekend; with each revision she had discovered
a phrase or two which could be restated to better advantage. From time
to time her attention drifted off-screen to Nancy Jean, her best friend
since high school and now her roommate at college. Nancy Jean, whose
closely observed personal habits were imposing unexpected stresses and
strains; Nancy Jean, who now seemed unable to say ‘no’ to an invitation
to a late-night party, and who always needed help in the last minute
rushes to meet assignment deadlines. In high school Nancy Jean was a
very quiet, proper girl, with high moral standards. College changes
people.
At midnight she closed down her
computer, switched off the lights and crawled into bed, feigning sleep
when she heard Nancy Jean’s key in the lock…
“Susan, get up! Nancy’s at the
hospital!” Sara, Nancy’s line sister screamed.
“What? What happened?” Susan inquired
as she scrambled for her shoes.
“I’ll explain everything on the way,
just come on.”
On the way to the hospital Susan was
told that members of a rival sorority challenged Nancy Jean to a
mixed-drink-drinking contest. Unaware of exactly what drinks were mixed,
Nancy accepted the challenge in fear of what her sorors might do if she
refused. She was not a regular drinker, and failed to consider the fact
that she had not eaten a complete meal in over nine hours. After
completing her 14th shot of Hennesey and Vodka, she sat for a minute,
then began shivering. She fell to the floor, regurgitating what appeared
to be every meal she had ever consumed in her life. Fortunately, she was
held upright to prevent her from drowning in her vomit. Minutes later
the ambulance arrived to take her to the hospital. To make a bad story
worse, on the way to the hospital, Nancy Jean was told that she lost the
contest.
Upon their arrival at the hospital,
Susan and Sara were updated on Nancy Jean’s condition. Nancy was
comatose, but more importantly, the doctors had determined that she was
in need of an immediate kidney transplant. Nancy was unaware that she
had a rare kidney disorder that would become fatal if she were subjected
to a large amount of alcohol. The doctor further explained that death
was inevitable if Nancy did not have the infected kidney removed. Every
available candidate for donation was tested; however, no one had the
same rare blood type as Nancy Jean.
Susan was instantly reminded of the
very first time she met Nancy Jean. It was the first day of their
freshman year in high school; and Nancy had asked Susan to be her lab
partner in an experiment to determine their blood type. Nancy and Susan
were the only two members of the class who tested positive for O
negative blood.
“Would you mind if we tested you two
as possible donors? Nancy’s kidney is currently releasing poison
throughout her body. We must remove it within the next six hours or she
will have no chance of survival,” an eager nurse interrupted.
“Sure.” Sara responded immediately
“I don’t believe in surgery.” Susan
replied nonchalantly.
“What?” Sara turned to Susan.
“Nancy’s your best friend. The surgery won’t hurt you. Nancy could die
if you don’t”.
“Me and Nancy both had morals when we
got here. If she had stuck to hers she wouldn’t be in this situation in
the first place. I’m not like Nancy Jean. I refuse to let college, or
Nancy’s problems, change me. I don’t believe in medical science, and I
won’t suffer from any surgeries.” On this note Susan left the Hospital.
Nancy Jean was pronounced dead eight
hours later.